South Dakota state legislators to see student research work first hand

PIERRE, S.D. – The research work of 17 undergraduate students from South Dakota colleges and universities will be on display Thursday as these students bring their projects to the state Capitol, meeting with lawmakers and the public.

The 2010 Student Research Poster Session runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, in the State Capitol Rotunda. The public is invited to attend, and enjoy ice cream courtesy of South Dakota State University.

The 17 represent students statewide who are pursuing research in a variety of disciplines. “The work of these student researchers is nationally competitive,” said Gary Johnson, system vice president of research for the South Dakota Board of Regents. “Their excellent work demonstrates firsthand the important linkages between research and a quality higher education experience.”

Now in its 13th year, the poster session features a small number of students from public, private, and tribal colleges, who earned this special opportunity to present their research to legislators. In addition to the students’ research, there will be displays from the state’s six public universities, the South Dakota Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network (BRIN), and South Dakota’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). These higher education institutions and programs have greatly benefited from the state’s investments in research, Johnson said.

The students chosen to participate in Thursday’s event are:

Jess Moser, Gregory, representing Black Hills State University

Lisa Chase, Salem, representing Dakota State University

Toni A. Fritz, Pembina, N.D., representing Northern State University

Nathan Huft, Pierre; Eric Young, Aberdeen; Tyler Blumenthal, Rapid City; and Kevin Gray, Gillette, Wyo.; representing South Dakota School of Mines & Technology

Tara Jeatran, Menomonie, Wis., and Diane Narem, Milbank, representing South Dakota State University

Heather Fluit, Sioux Falls, and Adam Bledsoe, Aberdeen, representing The University of South Dakota

Alan Sazama, Harrisburg, and Haley Gorby, West Fargo, N.D., representing the University of Sioux Falls and BRIN

Helene Gaddie, Wanblee; Michael Thompson, Rapid City; and Elisha Yellow Thunder, Oglala, representing Oglala Lakota College and EPSCoR

Micheal L. Millard Sr., Mission, representing Sinte Gleska University and EPSCoR

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